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Fascinating pair of letters by U.S. Representative from Ohio Chauncey Goodrich (1759-1815), describing the deadlock in Congress as they tried to sort out the contested election of 1800, when Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr tied for the presidency, as the voter who was supposed to withhold his vote from Burr failed to do so, and the two candidates from the Democratic-Republicans received the same number of votes in the electoral college. In the first letter, Goodrich gives a ballot-by-ballot accounting, "My Dear Sir, 73 of electoral votes for Mr. Jefferson, 73 for Mr. Burr, 65 for Mr. Adams, 64 for Genl. Pickney, 1 for Mr. Jay. 7 ballotings in the house of Representatives, on each 8 states for Mr. Jefferson, 6 for Mr. Burr, 2 divided..." The totals for ballots 8 through 22 are given, with the same result for each, with some commentary on the process. On Feb. 13, Goodrich writes, "Thank you for your letter covering a navy bill... I will endeavor to get over to the office & do the business. We have had thirty rounds of balloting, & on each the result as on the first. For Mr. Jefferson, 8 states, for Mr. Burr, 6 do., divided, 2 do. Tomorrow at 12 the Ballot to be repeated...."